Middle School
Transformational learning and teaching are core to the experience at Scotch College Middle School. Our students live in a rapidly-increasing interconnected world and digital technologies are the conduit for participation. The Middle Years program offers students the opportunity to develop 21st century skills of complex communication, creativity, collaboration and critical reflection.
As students transition into the Middle Years at Scotch College, the emphasis on agency and self-management skills in the use of digital technology become the focus for learning. This is a critical time for your child to develop good habits of organisation along with modifying and adjusting the use of technology at home and at school.
The implementation of Apple iPads throughout the Middle School has encouraged an important shift in teaching and learning practices which are continuously evolving with new and improved technological innovations. Students and teachers co-learn in collaborative environments using their iPad as the tool to develop the skills to succeed in an ever-changing environment.
As part of their daily practice, students utilise SEQTA Learn, a Learning Management System for students that contains important daily information about timetables, courses and assessments. This is complemented by SEQTA Engage for parents and guardians. During House Tutor Group classes at the beginning of each day, your son is encouraged to check his timetable, dashboard and notices to organise himself for learning.
Within classes, the iPad Air 4 with Apple Pencil is required for learning activities. Modes of learning when using digital devices can differ between activities across subject areas. Often the device is used as a creative tool offering options for video-recording, sketch-noting, audio recording and podcasting. Alternatively the digital device can be used for researching, reading and interactive platforms such as Stile for Science or Mathspace in Mathematics.
Your son will be given opportunities to develop his skills and understandings in using a variety of software applications including Office365, Apple iWork and Adobe Creative Cloud. OneNote and Classwork platforms are used extensively across many of the classes for distribution of class materials and opportunities for collaboration in online environments. Microsoft Teams can be utilised in the event of Online Learning for face-to-face live instruction with the teacher.
In Indonesian and French the use of the online application, Quizlet enables teachers to create self-assessed and self-paced activities that allow language to be taught through a variety of media.
Currently our Middle school boys have access to our OneDrive Cloud server in order that their work is safely stored and protected. It is important for our students to be able to access their work from anywhere in the world and from any device.
This is particularly beneficial for students who work across a number of devices between home and school and also helpful when students have difficulty with a device or it needs repair. Students are still able to access all their work via OneDrive even if using a loan device.
In addition, your son has access to GoPro devices, Maker Space kits and the full resources of the Senior School.
